Alaafin hails Prof. Akintoye for lifelong service to Yoruba culture
By Adejayan Gbenga –
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has celebrated Professor Stephen Adebanji Akintoye, one of Nigeria’s foremost historians and a prominent advocate of Yoruba self-determination, on the occasion of his 91st birthday.
In a congratulatory message delivered through his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, on Thursday, Oba Owoade praised Prof. Akintoye for his lifelong contributions to the study of Yoruba civilization and his active engagement in Nigeria’s political and cultural development.
The monarch described Prof. Akintoye as “a cultural advocate, whose commitment to academic excellence, political integrity, and Yoruba identity has made him a revered figure across generations.”
Oba Owoade also highlighted Prof. Akintoye’s academic career, noting his tenure at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he served as Professor of History and Director of the Institute of African Studies, as a period that shaped academia positively.
The Alaafin equally acknowledged Prof. Akintoye’s role as a leading advocate for Yoruba self-determination, emphasizing his calls for nonviolent advocacy, cultural preservation, and strategic planning to advance the interests of Yoruba people in Nigeria and the diaspora.
“His groundbreaking scholarship has reshaped understandings of Yoruba identity and African history,” Oba Owoade stated.
Alafin went on to praise the Professor’s seminal work, A History of the Yoruba People (2010), for challenging colonial-era narratives and presenting a comprehensive account of Yoruba civilization from prehistoric times to the modern era.
